Orange Unified chooses 2 new trustees to fill board vacancies – Orange County Register

Sara Pelly and Stephen Glass have been chosen as the Orange Unified School District’s new trustees to fill seats left vacant following a successful recall effort earlier this year.

OUSD trustees unanimously selected Glass and Pelly Thursday evening, May 2, during a special board meeting after hearing from more than a dozen candidates. Administrators highlighted both of their backgrounds in education to explain why they were chosen for these positions.

Pelly, a recently retired district superintendent, was chosen by OUSD administrators to fill the Area 4 seat. She has lived in the district for more than 35 years, she said, and most recently held the position of principal of Fletcher Academy.

Parent involvement, Pelly told board members Thursday, is “crucial to the success of every child.”

“I have always felt a responsibility to advocate for students and families who are afraid or feel like they don’t have the opportunity to speak out,” Pelly said. “Our school is a place where everyone should feel welcome, and as a board member, I will ensure that all parents feel heard and safe.

In his application, Pelly said OUSD needs to step up its efforts to “close the achievement gap.”

“Even though OUSD has seen an increase in student achievement, there has not been the consistency needed to close the achievement gap,” she said. “Systems need to be in place in all district schools, along with accountability for implementation and success. Resources must be allocated with the aim of closing the gap.

Pelly helped start the Mandarin immersion program at Fletcher, administrators said, and was an active member of various OUSD educational committees.

“His understanding of marginalized communities helps him understand many of our students in our district, which was important to me,” said administrator Andrea Yamasaki. “She will stand up for those who have no voice.

Glass, a 12-year resident of the district, was selected to fill the Administration Area 7 seat.

Glass is a faculty member at Cal State Long Beach and has a long history in California education. He worked as principal of West Covina and Compton high schools as well as assistant principal of Buena Park and Cerritos high schools.

Improving reading and math scores, especially in the lower grades, is where OUSD needs to improve the most, Glass said.

“These subjects are essential foundations for academic success,” Glass said. “This includes specialized interventions and resources to support students learning multiple languages, students with disabilities, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.”

Trustee Kris Erickson said Glass had “an impressive background and training.”

“He touched on almost every aspect of education possible,” Erickson said. “If I were to write a resume for a board member, it would probably look like yours because it matches everything. »

Pelly and Glass will be sworn in at the regular OUSD Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, May 9.

Both could also appear on upcoming November election ballots. Future directors can run for these seats and, if elected, their term will last until 2026.

If not chosen by voters or if they do not decide to run, the appointed trustees will only serve until the general election results are certified in December.

OUSD’s two vacancies were opened after voters ousted former board President Rick Ledesma and Trustee Madison Miner in the March primary election.

OUSD Recall, a group made up of community members and teachers, launched an effort to remove Ledesma and Miner after the board called a special meeting in January 2023 to fire its superintendent and place an assistant superintendent in charge. paid leave without explanation and over the objections of many in the school community.